P A R K E R

20 | wishes like stars

"I SERIOUSLY HAVE no idea." I say into the phone, absentmindedly rubbing my toes over my rug.

"Um, I do." Blake says, "does a certain tall, dark, handsome, dreamy eyes guy ring a bell?"

I playfully role my eyes, although I know he can't see me. "I don't want to ask Sean. Why are you all telling me to ask him?"

"I'm not telling you anything."

"Suggesting. Same thing." I fall back on my bed. "Don't you all have another option?"

"There are so many guys that'll love for you to ask them to the dance, Parker lurker."

"Name one dateless one and I would ask him out right now." I say, leaping up in excitement. "I don't care if he has boogers, at this point I'll take any male."

Blake laughter rang through the phone and I thanked his stars on his behalf that he wasn't in front of me, else, I would have strangled him. "No, you won't."

"What? Yes, I would."

"No."

I groaned. "Yes, Blake. What do you mean?"

He sighed. "I don't think you'd ask any guy. You're just saying that now."

"The dance is literally tomorrow. I don't have any choice."

"Yes, you do. Sean." He says and quickly adds. "And I'm not saying this because I'm suggesting something. He's your friend, Parks and believe it or not, you're most comfortable around him. Give me one reason why you can't ask him to the dance."

"I-- I--" I flattered. Earlier, I had a lot of reason why Sean Bryan wasn't the appropriate dance partner but now, I can't bring myself to say it out loud and to another person, they sound foolish.

"Huh Parks?" Blake pressed when he got no reply. "What exactly are you afraid of?"

The answer to that one was surprisingly simple; my heart.

Over the last weeks, Sean and I had bonded like no other. I've been more myself when surrounded by him and if the doctors could see me now, I'm sure the word 'healing' would be associated with my name. Then there's the fact that I was once in love with him and every minute, second and hour we spend together, I can imagine those feelings rushing back. The horror of it all is I can't help it. I can't help it if I'm falling for Sean Bryan all over again.

I mask my silence and now small voice with a weak chuckle. "Nothing. What's there to be afraid of?"

"Right. So I don't see the problem."

I sigh. "Well, what if, like you he already has a date?"

"You know, Riley asked him out."

My eyes widen, "she did?"

"Yup, but he turned her down."

"Oh."

"So?"

I sigh with a smile. "Fine, I'll ask him. Just pray he says yes, else I'll be the one girl at the dance with her twenty two year old brother as a date."

He laughed again. "Fingers crossed."

"Goodnight, Blakey Blake."

"Night, Parker lurker."

The call ended and I tossed my phone on the bed, falling down on it and hanging my head over the other side, my hair pooling on the ground as I tried to figure out how to go about in asking Sean to the dance. I had already made up my mind to ask Blake but some cheerleader already beat me to it. Riley. God, I should've known Riley has her eyes set on Sean. Why for Christ sakes, of all boys to want in this little town, it just had to be---

My thoughts cut as my eyes see something resting on my window sill, the curtain moving above it. In my haste to turn around, I fall down go the floor almost snapping my neck in the process. "Ow." I rub my neck as I pull myself up and slowly walk to my opened window. I'm pretty sure this was locked.

Lying there comfortably was a champagne coloured rose. I picked it up, jaw slacked as I admired it. The thorns have been revived and it had perfect delicate petals. As my fingers ran over the petals, a heavy feeling of nostalgia rose up in my chest. This is exactly the kind of thing Bryce would do. I guess this is one place where the Bryan's are alike in, they specialized with perfect roses.

My eyes drifted up to my new dress hanging on the door to my wardrobe. Clement and Nova had helped me pick it up, and it was perfect. The champagne colour fitted my skin wonderfully and just happened to be amongst my favourite colours. It was long, stopping right at my ankles to give my shoes room to shine. I have gold brown shoes and purse to match so I didn't bother with those at the mall. I smiled seeing the rose and dress.

Thank you, Sean.

I heard the faint sound of a voice and when I looked out, I could see Sean sitting at the stairs of his porch, talking on the phone. I smiled, keeping the rose safe as I slipped my feets into my Gucci flops and ran out. Trey and Mom were already asleep so I had to be extra careful as I sneaked out, trying not to make too much of a noise.

Sean didn't notice me and as I got closer, I could tell that he wasn't pleased with however it is that is on the other line. His brows were pinched together in irritation, fists clenched and jaw set.

"I really need to be there." I heard him say into the phone. "Darra, damn the stupid consequence. He could..." Sean trailed off as he set eyes on my flops, then traced them up to my face.

"I'll call you back." He rushed, ending the call. "Hey."

"Hey." I greeted back, moving so I could be seating next to him on the stair. "Someone giving you trouble?"

"Nah, nothing I can't handle." He replies, glancing at me.

"Of course." I nod, regarding his ripping muscles. "You know, you never talk about military school and your friends there."

"Lies, I do talk about it. I told you about the nicknames." He pointed out.

"That was one time and a tiny detail that almost does not matter." I say, crossing my hands in front of me.

Sean sighed, relaxing back on his hands. "Fine, what do you want to know?"

"Do you miss it?" I ask pulling my legs up and resting my chin on them as I looked at him.

He did a one shoulder shrug. "The only miss one person. And that's like, rarely." I smiled. "It's not a bad place but here's much better."

"Are there girls over there?" I blurt out, then blush hiding my face but Sean doesn't look at me, he's still looking ahead, brows pinched together.

"No, it's an all boys thing. But we occasionally see girls, once in a while that is." The Sean I know would have teased me for asking that but he didn't, he kept his serious face on and I knew something other than my meaningless interview was on his mind.

"So, you're telling me, you never got to hook up?" I asked trying to bring him out of his seriousness shell.

"Hook up?" He repeated to himself, as if the words were foreign, then it finally clicked and he turned to me. "Of course I did. Do you really think a few rules can stop me?"

I rolled my eyes, "Of course." I didn't like the answer but it worked, now he was looking at me.

"But don't get jealous."

"Why would I get jealous?"

He shrugs again, looking away. "Dunno but just so we're clear, they didn't mean anything to me."

This time, I shrug. I don't know why he was telling me that, I don't care about his hookups or if they meant anything or not. Anyone could tell there were still so many words left hanging between us. So many things he could say and explain, so questions I have to ask. I look back at Sean and now he's tossing a stone up and down, rambling in his head.

I catch the stone before he does and he looks at me with a raised brow. "What's wrong?"

"Huh?"

"You clearly have something on your mind that's bothering you." I say watching his expression carefully.

He clears his throat, sitting up straight. "Its nothing you should bother about. Especially not when you should be having your beauty sleep. Don't you have a dance to prepare for tomorrow?"

I look away, its finally time to drop the big question. "Yea, about that," I paused for effect and also to brace myself. "I was wondering... would you like to be my escort at the dance tomorrow?"

"Escort?" He laughs and I could see the usual gleam in his eyes. "Don't you mean date?"

"Same thing, moron." I say although I purposely said escort instead of date. Makes it sound less... intimate.

"Fine, because you're practically begging--"

"I'm not."

"Yes, Parker Holt, I'd love to be your escort at the dance." He says so seriously, looking at me in a way that made my knees weak. Thank God I'm seated.

Sean gets up but I don't and he leans down, placing a kiss on my forehead. He looks at me and I'm ninety five percent sure he was going to say something but once more he decides against it, instead tucks my hair behind my ear. "Goodnight."

I sigh as the door shuts behind him, looking up at the dark sky with winking stars.

Night.

O_o

"We should totally rub it in Riley's face." Nova says, testing foundations behind the palm of her hand. "God, I can't believe Sean rejected her and picked you. Can you imagine the look on her face when she sees you both tonight. Victory."

"Still doubts that he likes you?" Clement asks from my bed where she's testing my shoes.

"He doesn't like me and it doesn't matter whether he does or not, I'm not seeking a lover." I say to her, pausing the mascara wand mid air. "And there's no deeper meaning to him saying yes to me. The answer is simple; Riley's a witch, I'm not."

"Yea." Nova says, and I catch her and Clem exchanging a look.

"Not seeking a lover?" Clement asks, clearly not believing that. "So you're saying if it so happens that Sean likes you and you like him back, nothing would be cooking?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying." I say, dropping the mascara after being satisfied with my look.

Clement scoffs. "Even widows don't mourn up to a year anymore."

"Clement!" Nova scolds literally yelling while I just stare at her reflection, jaw slacked.

"Opps," she says biting on her lip, then sighs. "I'm sorry, that was an inappropriate thing to say."

"No shit." Nova fires, glaring. Clement glares back.

"Its just," she continues, "I want you to be happy and I ship you and that guy so much."

I pushed the chair back, getting up. "That's just too bad Clem, because nothing is going on between me and Sean." I say this more to myself than her. "And I'm gonna mourn Bryce as long as I fucking please and you know why, because he deserves it. He deserves much more." I don't wait to hear anything she'd say as I bolt into my bathroom.

"Now you've done it." I hear Nova say and I vaguely hear Clement tell her to shut up.

I look at my reflection in the mirror and tears are already pooled in my eyes, waiting to fall and ruin my makeup. "God, this can't keep happening." I whisper to my reflection, watching a tear roll down. "You can't keep breaking down at every little thing." I press a finger on the glass, pointing at myself. Man up, Parker, man the fuck up!". I know Clement means well but I really can't stand anybody telling ms how to mourn Bryce. They had no idea what we shared, they have no idea how much it hurts that he isn't here.

I didn't cry much and soon I was out again. Clement apologized and we back to being goals. Nova redid my makeup and I got dressed in record time. My hair was rolled and falling over my shoulders and I pinned the champagne rose to my dress, even I could see that I looked great.

"You're gonna be missing out on a lot of fun." I tell Clement after she refuses for the millionth time to follow us to the dance.

"I promise, I'll attend prom." She says with a wink, you girls just go have fun.

"Girls," Trey calls as my bedroom door opens up. "Sean's here and mum has the cameras ready to go."

"Trey, you perv!" I yell, throwing my purse at him, he catches it with a smile. "I could've been naked."

"Nothing I haven't seen before." He shrugs.

"Oh me God." I face palm, then sigh. I shouldn't expect any less, its Trey Holt.

"Hey, Trey." Nova greats and Trey replies her with something in the line of 'princess'. 

I look over at Clement and she's staring at my brother in an expression I can only explain as awestruck. I frown looking over at Trey to see what she seeing. He just had his string black joggers on with a plain grey tank top. His long feet are bare and his brunette hair that's like mine has surely seen better days. I don't see it. I snap my fingers in front of her face. "Earth to Clement."

She blinks, "Jesus, is that the boy in the photos?"

"Yea, that's my elder brother Trey." At the mention of his name, he looks in our direction again, finally seeing Clement. His brow raises up and he looks her from head to toe before looking over at me for some explanation. I sigh. "Trey, this is my new friend, Clement. Clem, Trey my twenty two year old brother." I stressed his age so she'd know what's she's fantasizing about.

Trey smiled and Clement had to put a hand on my shoulder to steady herself. He stretched his hand forward. "The graveyard stiletto girl?"

"Graveyard?" Clement looks at me with wide accusing eyes, then sighs walking over to Trey and placing her hand in his. "That was a one time thing, I swear. I'm not a graveyard girl."

"Sure. You don't look like one anyway." Trey says and Clement glowed. I quickly jumped in, tearing their hands apart.

"Okay, introduction over. We gotta go." I glared at my brother, mouthing 'what the hell?!'. He didn't understand though but backed off anyway.

Clement sighed watching him go. "Imma marry that guy."

Nova and I shared a look and I wondered what charms Trey had that didn't extend to me.

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